Bunkers or Breakthrough? In his last month as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei finds himself at the explosive crux of the world’s nuclear politics, ferrying messages between the Obama administration and Tehran. “They are talking through me,” he says. NYT/ Reuters

U.N. head: Timing key to Iran nuclear deal The outgoing head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said a question of timing is the top issue delaying a nuclear deal between Iran and international powers. CNN/ CNN Video/ CNN Video/ Reuters

IAEA in the News

Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report The UN’s nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence suggesting that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, the Guardian has learned. The Guardian

Iran holding up nuclear deal with demand for reactor fuel, diplomat says Iran is demanding full delivery of reactor fuel before it gives up its stash of low-enriched uranium and has balked at further efforts to hold international talks on its nuclear program, according to a senior European diplomat. WP

Clinton urges Iran to accept nuclear offer as it is US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday urged Iran to accept unchanged a UN-drafted deal with global powers on its nuclear program. AFP

US, EU ask India, others to embrace NPT, CTBT In a renewed bid to pressure India and other non-signatories, a summit of the United States and the European Union has asked all these nations to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) “as non-nuclear weapon States” to achieve universality. Daily Pioneer

Indo-French deal gives assurance for lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for French reactors The Indo-French Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, signed by the two countries in Paris on September 30, 2008, explicitly allows for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from French nuclear reactors under safeguards, and gives assurance for lifetime supply of nuclear fuel for these reactors. The Hindu

Other Nuclear News

Russia welcomes “constructive” U.S. proposals on new START treaty The U.S. has made “constructive” proposals to Russia on a nuclear arsenal cut deal, raising hopes of reaching a new accord to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) that expires Dec. 5, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday. Xinhua

France, Poland sign nuclear cooperation accord France and Poland signed a technical cooperation accord in nuclear power on Thursday but Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was too early to say whether French firms would be partners in its planned reactor. Reuters

Opinion and Analysis

Tehran gains time WP

Iran: Too divided for nuclear deal? BBC

The deal that was not Haaretz

Analysis: German nuclear policy skirts a taboo Reuters

FACTBOX: Nuclear power plans in Europe Reuters

Japan must take cautious approach toward use of nuclear fuel The Mainichi Daily News

Iran wants to be seen as regional power: ElBaradei Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran says is only intended to generate electricity, is an attempt to force the world to acknowledge it as a regional power, U.N. nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei said on Wednesday. Reuters/ CSMonitor/ AFP/ WSJ

Kouchner hardens stance against Iran’s nuclear dallying French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned Iran on Wednesday that Western powers would not wait “until the end of the world” for the Islamic Republic to give an official response to a UN-brokered nuclear deal. AFP

Expert Says U.S. Could Use Cold War Strategy to Prevent Iran From Producing Nukes The United States might have to adopt a “mini Cold War” strategy to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a leading arms control expert said yesterday GSN

Iran ‘not intimidated’ by sound of sanctions As Washington scrambles to assemble tougher sanctions against Tehran, a senior Iranian lawmaker assures that the country will never be ‘intimidated’ into giving up its nuclear rights. Press TV

Nuke negotiator heads to U.S. to discuss N.K. Wi Sung-lac, the nation’s top nuclear negotiator, yesterday headed for the United States to discuss Washington’s upcoming meeting with North Korea, which is expected to be a prelude to future discussions on ending the North’s nuclear weapons programs. The Korea Herald

Other Nuclear News

Russian, U.S. officials discuss new arms control deal Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle have discussed a new arms control agreement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Ria Novosti

Multilateral Input Needed on German Plan for U.S. Nukes, NATO Head Says Germany should accept outside input in deciding whether to demand the withdrawal of U.S. nuclear weapons from its territory, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday GSN

India worried about Pak N-control With the Taliban unleashing a series of attacks on Pakistan’s defence installations, including a military base linked to its strategic programme, there is growing worry about Islamabad’s ability to safeguard its nuclear arsenal. The Times Of India

India, EU to sign deal on civil nuclear energy this week The European Union and India are likely to sign an agreement on civilian nuclear energy, dealing with India’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, during the India-EU summit that takes place this week. The Economic Times

Japan nuke plant starts using controversial fuel A Japanese nuclear power plant on Thursday started using recycled mixed-oxide or MOX fuel from a controversial shipment from France that arrived in the country amid protests in May. AFP

Kansai Electric May Extend Lifespan of Atomic Reactor Kansai Electric Power Co., Japan’s second-largest utility, is seeking to extend the lifespan of a 39 year-old nuclear reactor instead of replacing the unit. Bloomberg

Opinion and Analysis

Iran’s nuclear diversion WP

The US must cajole Iran into a nuclear deal FT

Nuclear rainy day Haaretz

Iran looks to Argentina for nuclear fuel Asia Times

Iran Bill Could Force Obama Toward Sanctions Truthout

‘A World Without Nuclear Weapons’ Might Still Be Possible The Huffington Post

Nuclear waste: Coming to a town near you? CNN

ElBaradei asks Iran for quick response on nukes The head of the U.N. nuclear agency urged Iran on Monday to clarify its response to a U.S.-backed proposal that would have Tehran ship most of its nuclear material abroad for processing. AP/ Bloomberg/ Reuters

Iran wants new nuclear fuel talks Iran wants more talks on a U.N.-drafted nuclear deal and to import atomic fuel rather than send its own uranium abroad for processing, a Iranian diplomat said, suggesting terms world powers are likely to rebuff. Reuters/ DPA/ Press TV

Clinton tells Iran to adhere to plan Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday urged Iran to stick to an agreement to ship low-enriched uranium abroad for processing for use in a Tehran research reactor, after a senior official Iranian official said his country wants to instead purchase nuclear fuel. WP/ AlJazeera

Britain, Russia, others urge Iran to respond to uranium proposal Britain, Russia and their international partners want a “prompt response” from Iran on a uranium enrichment proposal, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday. CNN

France warns Iran: Avoid delay tactics France will not accept any delaying tactics by Iran over a UN-brokered proposal to enrich its nuclear fuel abroad, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Monday. Reuters

Iran’s Military Power Subject to New U.S. Study Used for China Iran’s military will be subject for the first time to the kind of U.S. assessment reserved for China’s expanding forces as lawmakers seek a more accurate analysis of the Persian Gulf oil power’s strengths and strategy. Bloomberg

US used “false pretext” to invade Iraq in 2003, ElBaradei says Outgoing UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei criticized the United States on Monday for using a ‘false pretext’ to invade Iraq, costing ‘the lives of possibly hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.’ DPA

Other Nuclear News

N Korea ‘has extracted plutonium’ North Korea has completed the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods to extract weapons-grade plutonium, according to its official news agency. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) added that “noticeable successes” had been made in turning the extracted material into weapons grade plutonium. BBC/ AFP

North Korea Presses U.S. to Agree to Bilateral Talks North Korea has again pressed the United States for a decision about starting bilateral talks, with a diplomat warning Monday that the North was “ready to go our own way” with its nuclear weapons program. NYT

UK demands Russia deliver polonium killing suspect Britain’s visiting foreign secretary pressed Russia on Monday to turn over the main suspect in the 2006 killing of former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died from radioactive polonium poisoning in a London hospital. AP

Opinion and Analysis

Iran’s Politics Stand in the Way of a Nuclear Deal NYT

Tehran risks overplaying its hand in nuclear talks FT

When No Means No WSJ

Iran nuclear program: Clock is ticking as uranium collects CSMonitor

Iran seeks guarantees in nuclear proposal Press TV

How Israel Destroyed Syria’s Al Kibar Nuclear Reactor Der Spiegel

Iran seeks review of nuclear deal Iran has said it wants the UN’s nuclear watchdog to establish a committee to review a deal aimed at easing Western fears over its nuclear programme. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the country had passed a request to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) two days ago. Mr Mottaki said Tehran had “some technical and economic considerations”. BBC / AP / Washington Examiner

In Iran, opposition to uranium plan grows Senior Iranian lawmakers yesterday rejected a UN-backed plan to ship much of the country’s uranium abroad for further enrichment, raising more doubts about the likelihood that Tehran will finally approve the deal. AP

Nuclear fuel deal favors Iran: Russian ambassador The Russian ambassador to Tehran Alexander Sadovnikov said that the proposal of enriching Iran’s low grade uranium abroad benefits Iran. “Receiving Iran’s low grade uranium for making reactor fuel is an honest proposal which will favor Iran and help solve the Iranian nuclear issue,” the official IRNA news agency quoted the Russian ambassador as saying on Sunday. Xinhua / AFP

Netanyahu Backs Nuclear Deal That Iran Rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Friday cautiously endorsed the American-backed efforts to limit Iran’s nuclear program through shipments abroad of its enriched uranium. He made his remarks as an intensive Middle East diplomatic effort got under way, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton due here on Saturday. NYT

Turkey’s PM: First give up nuclear weapons to impose Iran sanctions Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that countries opposed to Iran’s atomic programme should give up their own nuclear weapons and described the sanctions imposed on his neighbour as arrogant. World Bulletin

IAEA’s offer meets Teheran’s needs – French Foreign Ministry The International Atomic Energy Agency’s offer to Iran meets that country’s needs, the French Foreign Ministry said on Friday. ITAR-TASS

Other Nuclear News

Russia-U.S. weapons talks on track: Kremlin adviser Russia and the United States are on track to sign a new deal to reduce their arsenals of nuclear weapons by the time a previous agreement expires next month, a Kremlin aide said at a policy conference in Morocco. Reuters

North Korea Says U.S. Must Make the Next Move in Nuclear Talks North Korea said the United States must make a decision on talks between the two countries, a condition set by the regime in Pyongyang to rejoin multilateral negotiations aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program. Bloomberg / CNN

N. Korea appears to have restored plutonium-generating plant: officials North Korea has apparently restored its facility used to produce weapons-grade plutonium at its main nuclear complex that had been mothballed under a six-nation accord, officials here said Monday. Yonhap

In rural India, resistance to nuclear plants Standing precariously on the thin edge of a newly dug well, Ajitbhai Narela looked out proudly at his groundnut and mango saplings. WP

Maryland gives Constellation deal a yellow light – Nuclear sale contingent on energy firm, French giant offering rebate, aid Regulators appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced Friday that they have offered conditional approval to let Constellation Energy Group sell nearly half its nuclear assets, including those in Calvert County, to French energy giant EDF in a move designed to lead to construction of the first new commercial nuclear reactor project in the United States in more than three decades. WP

Uranium industry at the crossroads In the ocean of Australia’s mineral exports, uranium makes up more than a drop – but not much more. The minerals industry shipped about $160 billion in commodities last financial year, and less than 1 per cent of that was uranium. But the story of uranium has never been just about the money. And as the global dash for supply heats up, whipped up by predictions of a doubling in the world’s nuclear power generators in the next 40 years, one question is set to become more pressing: what will happen to the politics of yellowcake? Brisbane Times

Opinion and Analysis

Iran in no hurry to cut nuclear deal AP

Why Iran Loves Ambiguity The Daily Beast

Iran’s unlovable opposition WP

Talking with Iran — and sending a message LA Times

Why does the US insist on playing Iran’s game? JPost

On Nuke Disarmament, It’s Still “You First” IPS

Clinton Reasserts Her Role in U.S. Foreign Policy WSJ

IAEA Team Back From Iran Inspection A team of U.N. nuclear inspectors returned Thursday from a visit to a previously secret Iranian uranium enrichment site and their leader expressed satisfaction with the mission. AP/ Reuters

Iran has delivered response on nuclear fuel deal to IAEA, report says Iran on Thursday handed over its response to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to a nuclear fuel deal drafted by the U.N. atomic watchdog, state-owned Arabic language Al-Alam TV said. AFP/ BBC

Iran poised to respond to global offer on its nuclear programme Iran is expected to respond today to a crucial international offer regarding its nuclear programme, amid concerns among world powers that it will not accept a deal to transfer about two- thirds of its current stock of low-enriched uranium to France and Russia. FT/ Reuters

Iran Offers Nuclear Cooperation but No ‘Retreat’ From Rights After days of uncertain signals, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said Thursday that conditions now existed for “cooperation” with world powers on its nuclear program, but he insisted that his government would not retreat “one iota” from what he termed undeniable nuclear rights, according to news reports. NYT/ Reuters/ Press TV

Iran’s Mousavi criticises nuclear fuel plan – website Opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi has sharply criticised the outcome of Iran’s talks with world powers this month, making clear he was against a proposal to send enriched uranium abroad, a reformist website reported. Reuters

Iran to propose two amendments to IAEA deal: report Iran will propose two amendments to a UN-drafted deal under which most of Tehran’s low-enriched uranium will be sent abroad for conversion into nuclear fuel, a newspaper reported on Thursday. AFP

Iran nuclear sanctions ‘unlikely’ Further sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans are unlikely, a senior Russian official has said. President Dmitry Medvedev’s adviser Sergei Prikhodko said sanctions on Iran “are unlikely in the near future”, Russian news agencies reported. BBC

Israel: Iran’s uranium deal insufficient Israel said Thursday that the US-, French- and Russian-proposed uranium exchange deal with Iran would only delay by one year Tehran’s alleged progress toward a nuclear weapon. DPA

UN chief says Iran should accept uranium plan Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged Iran on Wednesday to accept a U.N.-drafted plan to ship much of its uranium abroad for enrichment, saying it would be “an important confidence-building measure.” AP

UN approves nuclear disarmament resolution proposed by Iran The UN General Assembly on Tuesday approved a draft resolution proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran on total nuclear disarmament amid strong opposition by the major powers. Tehran Times

Experts Warn of Proliferation Dangers Posed by Laser Enrichment Technology like the kind called for at a proposed laser uranium enrichment facility in the United States could increase the threat of nuclear weapons and materials proliferation in other countries, a panel of experts warned this week GSN

Other Nuclear News

House panel OKs Iranian fuel sanctions bill A bill that would give the Obama administration power to impose sanctions on a broad array of companies involved in providing Iran with gasoline cleared a key congressional committee Wednesday. Reuters

China’s Hu Lauds North Korea, Sidesteps Nuclear Dispute Chinese President Hu Jintao told a senior North Korean official on Wednesday that ties between the two nations have reached a new level of goodwill, avoiding direct mention of the North’s nuclear dispute in his public praise. Reuters

US Security Adviser in Moscow Nuclear Arms Talks U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, opening a day of negotiations expected to focus on downsizing nuclear arsenals and the Iran issue. AP

Ridding Germany of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Tucked away in one of Germany’s finest wine regions close to the border with Luxembourg is the Büchel Air Base. Its perimeter is heavily guarded by the German Luftwaffe, or air force. NYT

German RWE pulls out of Bulgarian nuclear project German utility firm RWE is pulling out of Bulgaria’s nuclear plant project in Belene, in which it was to hold 49 percent, the government in Sofia announced on Wednesday. AFP

First Koodankulam reactor to generate power by mid-2010 The first of the two 1,000 MWe reactors of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project is expected to start generating electricity by mid-2010, according to the Station Director of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), M. Kasinath Balaji. The Hindu

Russian Space Chief Proposes Nuclear Spaceship Russia laid out its ambition to gain an edge in the space race by building a nuclear-powered spaceship. But the plan outlined to a government meeting Wednesday left key questions unanswered, U.S. engineers were skeptical, and a Russian Greenpeace activist voiced concern. AP

Opinion and Analysis

The Next Steps on Nonproliferation Foreign Policy

Why Iran Will Push Back on the West’s Nuclear Offer TIME

Iran: Can Obama play hardball? WP

One Last Option for Securing Iranian Enriched Uranium Huffington Post

How to Keep Iran Nuclear-Free The Moscow Times

Iran Wants Big Changes to Nuclear Deal With Powers Iran wants major amendments within the framework of a U.N. nuclear fuel deal which it broadly accepts, state media said, a move that could unravel the plan and expose Tehran to the threat of harsher sanctions. Reuters/ LATimes

Compromise key to Iran nuclear deal Iran said on Tuesday that it would decide on a nuclear deal that envisages the country shipping low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia to be converted into metal fuel rods for a medical research reactor by Friday, October 30. Press TV

US expects Iran nuclear response within ‘days’ The United States said Tuesday it expected Iran’s verdict on a UN-brokered uranium deal within days, but refused to comment on Tehran’s demands for “very important changes.” AFP

Iraq goes nuclear with plans for new reactor programme Iraq has started lobbying for approval to again become a nuclear player, almost 19 years after British and American war planes destroyed Saddam Hussein’s last two reactors, the Guardian has learned. The Guardian

Other Nuclear News

U.S. set to respond if Iran defiant: Obama aide The United States will be ready to respond if Iran fails to take tangible steps soon to meet its commitments over its nuclear program, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser warned on Tuesday. Reuters

US Senate committee to vote on Iran fuel sanctions The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will vote Thursday on legislation that would impose sanctions on Iran’s gasoline suppliers in order to pressure Tehran to give up its nuclear program, the panel’s chairman said. Reuters

France Seeks Answers From Iran on Nuclear Program France said Tuesday it is increasingly exasperated with Iran’s strategy in international negotiations on its nuclear program, and pressed for a quick answer as to whether Tehran will accept a U.N. proposal aimed at defusing tension. AP

Additional U.S.-North Korea Talks Possible This Week The Obama administration yesterday did not rule out the possibility of additional informal talks this week with a North Korean envoy visiting the United States, the Yonhap News Agency reported GSN

Ex-US diplomat: Russia balks at zero nuke talks Russia is not ready to agree to a proposed new round of arms control talks that were to begin after a deal is reached on extending the START 1 nuclear treaty, a U.S. nuclear expert said Tuesday. AP

Russia says U.S. to respect its arms treaty concerns Russia expects to receive within days U.S. proposals taking into account Moscow’s concerns regarding a new strategic weapons deal negotiated by the two nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. Reuters

Japanese Hope Obama Will Visit A-Bomb Cities Soon A speech and a Nobel prize have raised hopes in Japan that Barack Obama will become the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki, the two cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in World War II. AP

Vattenfall Says German Nuclear Starts to Be Subject to Politics Vattenfall AB, the Nordic region’s biggest utility, said two German nuclear plants scheduled to be restarted next year may become a political issue after last month’s general election. Bloomberg

Nuclear compensation victory for Bulgaria Bulgaria has won an extension of financial support from the European Commission for the early shutdown of nuclear power reactors at Kozloduy. WNN

Bill to Ban Foreign Nuke Waste Makes Small Advance A bill designed to keep foreign countries from disposing their nuclear waste in the United States is taking a small but significant step toward getting a U.S. House committee vote for the first time. AP

Opinion and Analysis

Analysis: US Making Plans for Iran Nuke Strategy AP

Now is not the time to let a nuclear Iran off the hook The National

ElBaradei: “Avec un accord sur le nucléaire iranien, tout deviendrait possible” L’Express

IAEA in the News

Iran hints it could ship some uranium abroad Iran hinted Monday it could agree to ship some low-enriched uranium abroad for processing as reactor fuel as the world awaited its reply on a U.N.-drafted nuclear plan aimed at easing tensions with the West. AP/ Press TV/ Reuters/ Ria Novosti

Top Iran MP against shipping uranium in one shot An influential MP on Tuesday opposed shipping Iran’s entire low-enriched uranium abroad in one batch but came out in support of a UN-drafted nuclear deal, which a colleague hailed as a “win-win” plan. AFP

UN experts inspect controversial Iran atomic plant UN experts on Sunday were inspecting Iran’s controversial second uranium enrichment plant to verify whether the newly disclosed facility was designed for peaceful nuclear purposes. AFP/ Bloomberg/ Fars News

Obama rallies support over Iran US President Barack Obama has called the French and Russian leaders to consolidate their support ahead of a key UN nuclear inspection in Iran. The White House said Nicolas Sarkozy and Dmitry Medvedev fully backed a new UN plan on Iran’s nuclear programme. BBC

Bernard Kouchner: Iran and Israel in ‘race to confrontation’ Iran’s nuclear ambitions have started a “race to confrontation” with Israel and the world’s leading powers must break the deadlock before the Jewish state “reacts”, according to France’s foreign minister Bernard Kouchner. The Telegraph

Russia calls for patience, dynamics on Iran nuclear issue A Russian diplomat on Monday urged “maximum patience” and dynamics in resolving the Iranian nuclear standoff. Xinhua

Iran would need 18 months for atom bomb – diplomats Intelligence agencies estimate that it would probably take Iran a minimum of 18 months to develop a nuclear weapon if it chose to build one, Western diplomats and intelligence officials said. Reuters

Turkish PM says West treating Iran unfairly Turkey’s prime minister accused Western powers of treating Iran unfairly over its peaceful nuclear program, in an interview Monday in which he referred to the Iranian president as a friend. AFP

IAEA delegation visits Zimbabwe A three-member International Atomic Energy Agency team is in the country at the invitation of the Government to review and advise on measures to strengthen the regulatory framework for safety and security of radiation. The Herald

Other Nuclear News

Iran officials appear split on nuclear plan High-ranking Iranian officials appear divided over a draft proposal with the United States and other countries that would transfer the bulk of the Islamic republic’s enriched uranium stockpile out of the country. WP

World powers discuss unity on Iran nuclear deal: US The United States said world powers had spoken Monday of the need to maintain united pressure on Iran as Tehran weighs a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending the crisis over its nuclear program. AFP

Iran expects Russia to honor Bushehr commitments on time Tehran expects Moscow to launch Iran’s first nuclear power plant as scheduled, the Iranian foreign minister said on Monday. Ria Novosti

U.A.E. Cabinet Backs Nuclear-Energy Accord With U.S., WAM Says The United Arab Emirates cabinet approved an atomic-energy agreement with the U.S., a necessary step to awarding construction contracts for reactors in the Persian Gulf nation, state-run WAM news agency reported. Bloomberg

Nuclear energy becomes pivotal in climate debate Once vilified by environmentalists and its future dim, nuclear energy has become a pivotal bargaining chip as Senate Democrats seek Republican votes to pass climate legislation AP

Carefully Cleaning Up the Garbage at Los Alamos No one knows for sure what is buried in the Manhattan Project-era dump here. At the very least, there is probably a truck down there that was contaminated in 1945 at the Trinity test site, where the world’s first nuclear explosion seared the sky and melted the desert sand 200 miles south of here during World War II. NYT

Opinion and Analysis

Both Iran and West Fear a Trap on Deal NYT

The Reasons Behind Iran’s Nuclear-Delaying Tactics TIME

Dickering Over Uranium WSJ

Iran and Obama’s first lesson Asharq Alawsat

Time to accept a nuclear Iran Press TV

Mr. Kim’s scam WP

Russia agrees to Iran nuclear deal: Lavrov Russia has agreed to proposals by the U.N. nuclear watchdog to help reduce Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. Reuters

Deadline expires for Iran uranium deal Iran faced a new nuclear deadline Friday and new international pressure to agree a uranium enrichment deal brokered by the UN atomic watchdog. AFP

Senior Iranian MP casts doubt on atom fuel deal A senior Iranian MP rejected on Thursday the idea of sending enriched uranium abroad for further processing, hinting at Tehran’s reluctance to embrace a proposal meant to ease international tension over its nuclear ambitions. Reuters

Israel Signals Concern on Iran Talks The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, said on Thursday that Iran must cease all uranium enrichment, a statement that reflected Israeli concern over a draft agreement taking shape in Vienna, where earlier this week Iran took part in nuclear talks with the United States, Russia and France. NYT

Iran denies allegations of tensions with Israel at conference Representatives of Iran and Israel attended an international conference on nuclear disarmament last month in Egypt, but Iranian officials Thursday denied news reports that the two archenemies engaged in direct dialogue at the meeting amid conflicting accounts of heated exchanges. WP

Other Nuclear News

Suicide attacker hits Pakistani military complex A suicide bomber killed six people Friday near a military complex in northern Pakistan reportedly associated with the country’s nuclear weapons program, as the government presses on with a week-old offensive against militants in the northwest. AP

US-UAE nuclear deal to take effect soon – State Dept The United States and United Arab Emirates are finalizing a landmark nuclear power cooperation agreement now that Congress has given its tacit approval, U.S. officials said on Thursday. Reuters

Japan Probes 1960s Nuclear Agreements With U.S. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates cautioned Japan this week against letting a fact-finding mission into decades-old secret nuclear-weapons agreements affect relations between the two countries, according to an official familiar with the matter. WSJ

Opinion and Analysis

Deal or no deal? The Economist

Iran: Nuclear fission The Guardian

Iran’s smokescreen in Vienna not completely dissipated Ria Novosti

What might derail the Iran nuclear deal? CSMonitor

Iran will emerge victorious The Guardian

Will Iran nuke deal bury chances of Israeli attack? Haaretz

FACTBOX: What happens to spent nuclear fuel? Reuters

Iran, 3 powers have till Friday to OK nuclear deal The U.N. nuclear watchdog presented on Wednesday a draft deal to Iran and three world powers for approval within two days to reduce Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, seen by the West as a nuclear weapons risk. CNN / Reuters/ NYT/ Press TV/ FT

Iran Envoy Backs Uranium Deal, but Will Tehran? A top Iranian negotiator praised a plan Wednesday that would ship most of his country’s uranium abroad for enrichment and limit its ability to build a nuclear weapon. There was no guarantee, however, that Tehran’s leaders would accept the idea. AP/ Tehran Times

US calls Iran nuclear fuel draft deal a ‘very positive step’ The Obama administration said Wednesday that a draft accord on shipping Iran’s nuclear fuel abroad is a “very positive step,” expecting the document to be approved here by the end of the week. AFP

Israel largely quiet on Iranian deal Israel was largely mum Wednesday on reports that Iranian negotiators had expressed support for a deal that – if accepted by their leaders – would delay Teheran’s ability to make nuclear weapons by sending most of its known existing enriched uranium to Russia for processing. Jerusalem Post/ Israel News

Iran reserves right to up uranium enrichment Iran will not renounce its right to enrich uranium to levels above five percent purity even if it strikes a deal for a third party to carry it out, the head of its Atomic Energy Organisation said in comments published on Thursday. AFP

Clinton cites nuke worry; panel fears bio attack Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday warned of dire consequences from the spread of nuclear weapons, while a special U.S. panel asserted that the more worrisome and urgent threat is terrorists attacking the United States or its allies with biological weapons. AP/ AFP

U.N. Agency Hunts For Microscopic Nuclear Clues A hotchpotch set of grey and white buildings huddled in fields outside Vienna may seem an unlikely setting for a laboratory which could help uncover illicit nuclear activity. Reuters

Israel, Iran officials met in Cairo to discuss nuke-free Mideast A representative of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission and a senior Iranian official met last month to discuss the chances of declaring the Middle East a nuclear-free zone, Haaretz has learned. Haaretz

Other Nuclear News

Gates Pledges Nuclear Umbrella to Counter North Korea U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that North Korea poses a threat to Washington’s allies in North Asia and promised to protect them under the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Reuters

Opinion and Analysis

Iran Keeps Obama Waiting on Nuclear Deal TIME

What’s With Iran? NYT

The Iran talks we should end WP

Draft nuclear deal is a victory for Iran Haaretz

This Time, Ban the Test NYT

Nuclear disarmament Asahi Shimbun

Troubled Iran nuclear talks with 3 big powers resume Talks between Iran and three big powers resumed Wednesday after further delay over Tehran’s hesitancy to endorse a tentative deal to help defuse a long standoff over its disputed nuclear ambitions. Reuters/ NYT/ AP/ Press TV

Other Nuclear News

Gates Says US Won’t Accept Nuclear North Korea U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats “even more lethal and destabilizing” than before. AP

China committed to NKorea sanctions: US envoy A top US diplomat said Tuesday that China had expressed its commitment to implementing UN sanctions on North Korea aimed at getting the isolated nation to return to six-nation denuclearisation talks. AFP

NKorea Diplomat in China Ahead of Rare Trip to US A senior North Korean diplomat stopped in Beijing en route to the United States for a rare visit aimed at laying the groundwork for direct negotiations with Washington, news reports said. AP

Clinton outlines nuke-free world US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to outline key steps Washington will take to fulfill President Barack Obama’s vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. AFP

Finland will not build three new nuclear plants Finland, which is building its fifth nuclear reactor, has yet to decide how many reactors it will need in the next decade but it will be fewer than three, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said Tuesday. AFP

Alarm as Taiwan wants to extend life of oldest nuclear plant Taiwan wants to extend the life of its oldest nuclear power plant for another 20 years, the government said on Tuesday, triggering alarm among activists who fear it could put public safety at risk. AFP

Jordan looking to export uranium by 2011 Jordan is coming up with ’strong results’ indicating the country would emerge as a key exporter of uranium by the end of 2011, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) President Khalid Touqan said Tuesday. DPA

Opinion and Analysis

Behind Iran’s Diplomatic Snub of France TIME

Opinion: talks and terror – can the Iranian nuclear issue be resolved? Deutsche Welle

Six Wrong-Headed Cliches about Disarmament Der Spiegel

Why We Need to Test Nuclear Weapons WSJ

Iran atom talks off to “good start” despite tensions Talks between Iran and world powers on a deal to allay concerns about Tehran’s nuclear drive started well on Monday, the U.N. atomic agency chief said, despite Iran’s reported refusal to negotiate with France. Reuters/ NYT/ AP

France removed from Iran uranium suppliers France has been removed from the list of potential suppliers of highly enriched uranium for Iran, as talks are underway in Vienna between Tehran and three world powers. Press TV/ AFP

Iran says nuclear technology program to go ahead Iran will never abandon its “legal and obvious” right to nuclear technology, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday, adding that Tehran had no plan to halt its disputed uranium enrichment work. Reuters

Other Nuclear News

Any North Korea meeting must lead to six-way talk: U.S. The United States wants any bilateral contacts with North Korea to result in the resumption of stalled six-country nuclear negotiations, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia said on Monday. Reuters

U.S. Seeks to Keep Watching Russia’s Weapons With a key arms control treaty set to expire soon, the Obama administration is searching for ways to keep inspectors in Russia or else it risks losing American eyes on the world’s second most formidable nuclear weapons arsenal for the first time in decades. NYT

Lowering the alert levels in U.S. and Russia The high alert levels for U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces are more political statements carried over from the Cold War than military necessities for the 21st century, according to a multinational study released last week. WP

Nonproliferation panel gives up nuke cut target to below 1,000 by 2025 An international nuclear nonproliferation panel currently meeting in Hiroshima gave up Monday on making recommendations to reduce the number of nuclear warheads in the world from more than 20,000 at present to less than 1,000 by 2025, sources close to the panel said. Kyodo

Canada makes nuke deal despite the risks Trade Minister Stockwell Day will sign a treaty with Kazakhstan today that will clear Canada to export nuclear technology to the ex-Soviet republic, part of a push by the government to drum up business for Canada’s nuclear industry in Central Asia and India. CanWest News Service

Atomic Power Revival for GE, Areva Leaves Waste Puzzle Unsolved When 65 scientists met at Princeton University in 1955 to decide where to permanently store radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, their conclusion was simple: Bury it deep underground, far from earthquakes. Bloomberg

The Dilemma of Aging Nuclear Plants From the time the world’s first commercial nuclear power plants were switched on in the late 1950s, installed generating capacity rose rapidly over two decades. It leveled off in the 1980s as new building programs were scrapped in the wake of the accident at Three Mile Island, among other factors. NYT

Considering an Alternative Fuel for Nuclear Energy For decades, scientists have dreamed about turning thorium — an element that is less radioactive and produces less nuclear waste than uranium — into an alternative fuel for nuclear energy. Recent technological developments may be bringing the dream closer to reality. NYT

Opinion and Analysis

Nuclear swap WP

Why a Month Matters Foreign Policy

Iran’s nuclear disclosures: why they matter CSMonitor

U.N. nuclear chief calls for U.S.-Iran talks on nuclear dispute Direct talks without preconditions between the United States and Iran are the only solution to the conflict over Tehran’s nuclear program, the U.N. nuclear agency’s head was quoted as saying Saturday. Reuters/ Ria Novosti/ Jerusalem Post

World powers, Iran meet in Vienna on uranium deal World powers and Iran are set to meet in Vienna Monday for talks on supplying the Islamic Republic — which the West accuses of seeking to build an atomic bomb — with nuclear fuel. AFP/ The Guardian

Iran seeks to buy highly-enriched uranium A team of Iranian experts heads for the Austrian capital to discuss the terms of a deal to buy highly-enriched uranium without exchanging any of Tehran’s low-enriched uranium, Press TV has learned. Press TV

Iran says will enrich uranium if no deal in Vienna Iran will further enrich uranium itself if nuclear talks fail with the U.N. watchdog, Russia, France and the United States in Vienna on Monday, an Iranian official said. Reuters

US considering ways to accept Iran enrichment The United States is considering ways to officially announce that it has agreed to Iran’s demand to locally enrich uranium, sources say. Press TV

Talks on Iranian Reactor Deal Show Divisions on Sanctions A team of Obama administration officials, joined by officials from France and Russia, will begin negotiating in Vienna on Monday with Iranian diplomats over terms of an unusual deal that could remove a significant amount of Tehran’s low-enriched uranium from the country. WP

Other Nuclear News

Clinton Says Agrees With Russia on Iran Steps The United States and Russia agree they must consider further steps against Iran if they are unable to reach a diplomatic solution to its nuclear programme, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a newspaper. Reuters

China could bend on Iran nuclear sanctions, say experts China has repeatedly said it opposes sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, but Beijing could make concessions to protect its wider interests, especially in terms of Sino-US ties, experts say. AFP

Experts doubt effectiveness of US sanctions on Iran A flurry of congressional measures aimed at toughening US sanctions on Iran to pressure the Islamic republic to abandon its suspect nuclear program will likely have little to no impact, experts say. AFP

Chavez says Iran helping Venezuela find uranium Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday Iran is helping his country explore for uranium, but stressed his government would only use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Reuters

SKorea’s Top Diplomat Urges NKorea to Disarm South Korea’s foreign minister called North Korea’s uranium enrichment program ”worrisome” and pressed the nation Monday to take real steps toward nuclear disarmament. AP

German Nuclear Plants Get a New Lease The victory of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new alliance in elections last month promises to extend the country’s use of nuclear power — and reignite protests among those who have fought to phase it out. WSJ

Nuclear power: The consumer always pays Model for new UK reactors reveals damaging disagreements between Finland and French contractors The Guardian

Opinion and Analysis

How Obama’s Secret Iran Talks Set the Stage for a Nuclear Deal TIME

Analysis: Washington’s overplayed hand on Russia AP

5 Myths About Iran and the Bomb WP

Obama’s Nuclear Agenda Korea Times/Project Syndicate

Nuclear power: A bung by any other name The Guardian

U.S. Considers a New Assessment of Iran Threat U.S. spy agencies are considering whether to rewrite a controversial 2007 intelligence report that asserted Tehran halted its efforts to build nuclear weapons in 2003, current and former U.S. intelligence officials say. WSJ

Quick accord sought on Iran’s uranium export World powers want Iran to agree quickly to the export of low-enriched uranium to Russia for further enrichment as it would reduce the risk of the material going for nuclear weapons, France’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday. AP

Diplomats Set to Resume Nuclear Talks With Iran Diplomats from the United States, France, Russia and the United Nations are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials next Monday, October 19, in Vienna to resume discussions about the country’s nuclear program. But VOA

Precursor to PM’s US visit: India notifies separation plan in IAEA In the run-up to PM Manmohan Singh’s first state visit to Washington in the Obama administration, India has notified its separation plan in the IAEA, which formally separates India’s civilian and military nuclear establishments. The Times of India

Other Nuclear News

Radiation Overdoses Point Up Dangers of CT Scans At a time when Americans receive far more diagnostic radiation than ever before, two cases under scrutiny in California — one involving a large, well-known Los Angeles hospital, the other a tiny hospital in the northern part of the state — underscore the risks that powerful CT scans pose when used incorrectly. NYT

China Aid Could Mar Efforts to Rid NKorea of Nukes China’s recent offer of aid to North Korea could undermine U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang and help feed a cycle of failed negotiations aimed at ending the isolated country’s nuclear program, a former U.S. negotiator said Thursday. AP

Next nuclear worry for US: Kazakhstan? So far, the former Soviet state has cooperated with the US on nuclear issues. But a new report suggests that Kazakhstan might be looking to do business with other, less responsible regimes, too. CSMonitor

French nuclear facility under scrutiny over plutonium stocks The French government demanded to know how a nuclear research facility lost track of its plutonium stocks after several previously undeclared kilos of the material were found. The Times of India

Opinion and Analysis

A Hitch in Iran’s Nuclear Plans? WP

The 3-minute video that may prove Iran’s nuclear intentions Haaretz

Beijing Is Violating North Korean Sanctions WSJ

Pyongyang duck LATimes

Russia’s Putin warns against intimidating Iran Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned major powers on Wednesday against intimidating Iran and said talk of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme was “premature”. Reuters

Some See Iran as Ready for Nuclear Deal Iran says it has no plans to build nuclear weapons. Western nations say they do not believe Iran and periodically release intelligence reports that they say prove Iran has been working on building a bomb. NYT

IAEA experts checking Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on October 13 started inspections at the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant, the information center of the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant has reported. Interfax Ukraine

Laureates to Nobel winners: Prepare for ‘lightning bolt’ David Waller has some simple advice for anyone looking to improve morale at their organization — even if it’s not the easiest advice to follow. CNN

Other Nuclear News

Chinese Premier hails cooperation with Iran China, reluctant to isolate Iran in its standoff with the West over its nuclear program, will maintain cooperation with Tehran and foster “close coordination in international affairs,” Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday. Reuters

Medical isotope shortage to continue: Harper The federal government will continue to pressure the operators of a medical isotope-producing nuclear reactor to complete its repairs as soon as possible but expects health-care networks will have to brace for more challenges in the meantime, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said here Friday. CanWest News Service

India inks nuclear pact with Argentina India on Wednesday signed an agreement in civilian nuclear cooperation with Argentina, the seventh pact it has inked after coming out of isolation in the civilian nuclear field. The Hindu

Even Rabbit Droppings Count in Nuclear Cleanup Anything that hops, burrows, buzzes, crawls or grazes near a nuclear weapons plant may be capable of setting off a Geiger counter. And at the Hanford nuclear reservation, one of the dirtiest of them all, its droppings alone might be enough to trigger alarms. NYT

France suspends work at nuclear fuel plants due to plutonium excess France’s nuclear safety authority suspended work at a nuclear fuel plant after discovering it had underestimated plutonium levels. AP

German parties agree nuclear extension-officials German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have agreed with the Free Democrats (FDP) on extending the life of nuclear plants deemed safe but the timing is unclear, FDP and conservative politicians said on Thursday. Reuters

Opinion and Analysis

Cripple Iran to save it LATimes

A step forward on Iran The Hindu

How to Engage Iran WP

Site studies begin for Aqaba nuclear plant The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) on Tuesday launched environmental and feasibility studies for the location of the Kingdom’s first nuclear power plant. The Jordan Times

Tokyo Electric May ‘Uprate’ Reactors to Boost Output Tokyo Electric Power Co., Asia’s biggest nuclear operator, may raise capacity at existing reactors to meet emissions-reduction targets set by the new government. Bloomberg

Other Nuclear News

Russia Resists U.S. Position on Sanctions for Iran Denting President Obama’s hopes for a powerful ally in his campaign to press Iran on its nuclear program, Russia’s foreign minister said Tuesday that threatening Tehran now with harsh new sanctions would be “counterproductive.” NYT/ AP

‘Nuclear threat’ to power grids Scientists have warned that Iran and North Korea could produce a weapon capable of paralysing Western electricity grids for months or years. Experts fear that a missile-launched nuclear bomb exploded above the earth’s atmosphere could cause a catastrophe. BBC

U.S. hails cooperation on North Korea, sees new steps North Korea’s neighbours and the United States are coordinating closely to draw the isolated state back to nuclear disarmament talks and reviewing possible next steps, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday. Reuters

Russia’s new military doctrine allows preventive nuclear strikes Russia’s new military doctrine does not rule out preventive nuclear strikes against potential aggressors, the head of its Security Council said on Wednesday. Ria Novosti

Australia firm on uranium exports to India: FM Australia has asked India to take part in joint military exercises but is standing firm against exporting uranium for the Asian country’s nuclear energy programme, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said. AFP

Areva May Sign India Nuclear Contract Early Next Year Areva SA, the world’s biggest maker of atomic reactors, and Nuclear Power Corp. of India may sign an agreement early next year to build India’s first large-capacity plant using overseas equipment after a global ban was lifted. Bloomberg

French government demands to know about EDF nuclear dumps in Russia The French government demanded answers from electricity giant EDF on Tuesday after reports claim the company has been sending spent nuclear fuel to Russia. RFI

Cedars-Sinai radiation overdoses went unseen at several points The dosage — eight times the programmed amount — appeared on technicians’ screens during CT scans. Doctors also missed the problem. Experts say blind trust of medical machinery is a growing concern. LATimes

US documents point to secret Japan nuclear pact Despite decades of denials by Washington and Tokyo, US officials believe they enjoyed a secret pact to transport nuclear weapons through Japan, newly declassified documents showed. AFP

Opinion and Analysis

A Russian policy shift on Iran? BBC

Analysis: Russia uses ambiguity to boost its power AP

A different regime change in Iran FT

Could an Israeli air strike stop Iran’s nuclear program? CSMonitor

A Dangerous Iran? Here’s A Plan CBS News

Hillary’s Iranian Agenda Khaleej Times

Changing North Korea NYT

Will Japan Go Nuclear? Huffington Post

UK places trade restrictions on two Iranian firms The government has ordered financial companies to stop trade with two Iranian firms, Bank Mellat and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, amid alleged nuclear links, a minister said on Monday. AFP

PM-Obama meet in mind, India and US move on n-fuel talks India has shared with the US the broad contours of setting up a dedicated national reprocessing facility to handle US-origin nuclear fuel. This is a key step forward towards concluding discussions on reprocessing before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Washington in November. Indian Express

Other Nuclear News

Clinton visits Russia to discuss Iran, nuclear treaty US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a mission to Russia on Tuesday to advance negotiations for a new US-Russian nuclear arms treaty and seek Moscow’s help in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. AFP

US wants bunker-buster fast, denies Iran is reason The Pentagon is speeding up delivery of a colossal bomb designed to destroy hidden weapons bunkers buried underground and shielded by 10,000 pounds of reinforced concrete AP

Security of Pakistan nuclear weapons questioned An audacious weekend assault by Islamic militants on Pakistan’s army headquarters is again raising fears of an insurgent attack on the country’s nuclear weapons installation. Pakistan has sought to protect its nuclear weapons from attack by the Taliban or other militants by storing the warheads, detonators and missiles separately in facilities patrolled by elite troops. AP

Hospital error leads to radiation overdoses After Cedars-Sinai reset a CT scan machine in February 2008, more than 200 brain scans on potential stroke patients were performed at eight times the normal dose of radiation, the hospital says. LATimes

Memo Calls for Reversing Law to Phase Out German Nuclear Plants Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives want to prolong the life of Germany’s nuclear reactors by overturning a law aimed at phasing out atomic energy by the 2020s, according to a party working document. NYT

Nuclear strategy: Ambitious plans for home and export markets The crisis and the global recession have hit demand for electricity in Russia and around the world, and led to several proposed nuclear power plants being delayed. FT

Opinion and Analysis

U.N. shifts strategy for nuclear arms control LATimes

Iran Seeks Deal for Reactor Iran four months ago discreetly contacted the United Nations-affiliated agency for nuclear energy to outline a worrisome situation: A research reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes that detect and treat the diseases of about 10,000 patients a week will run out of fuel by the end of 2010. WP

Iran plans to produce reactor fuel if talks fail Ahead of planned nuclear discussions in Vienna, Tehran expresses optimisms that the talks will be fruitful, or else it will enrich uranium to the 20 percent required for its research reactor. Press TV / Reuters

Iran dismisses Clinton warning on nuclear drive Iran dismissed on Monday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s warning over Tehran’s nuclear programme, saying such “threats” have no impact on the Islamic republic. AFP

Ahmadinejad: Tehran, P5+1 to discuss Iran package Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the next round of talks between Iran and the six major world powers will focus on Iran’s latest package of proposals. Press TV

Diplomacy in the lead on Iran nuclear issue — for now Agreement to open Iran’s hidden nuclear complex to inspection has reduced talk of military action and put diplomacy back on track — at least for a while. But even as the U.S. tries to build international pressure, emerging details suggest it might already be too late for an armed strike. LA Times

Bangladesh: No Good News for Nuclear Power Plant Absence of strong political will and a sense of uncertainty about winning political mileage have kept successive governments away from implementing Bangladesh’s lone nuclear power project, conceived nearly five decades ago, say nuclear scientists. Energy Bangla

Other Nuclear News

Clinton warns Iran of need for nuclear progress U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that international powers would not wait forever for Iran to prove it was not developing nuclear bombs. Reuters

Clinton to press Russia on Iran, arms control U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travels to Russia on Monday hoping to win Moscow’s backing for a strong stance on Iran’s nuclear program and looking for progress on a new arms control pact. AP

Brown seeks to reduce warheads Gordon Brown is considering a cut in the number of warheads in the UK’s nuclear arsenal by 25 per cent early next year in a move aimed at underscoring Britain’s commitment to international disarmament. FT

Clinton Downplays Threat to Pakistan Nukes U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday the Taliban siege of Pakistan’s army headquarters showed extremists are a growing threat in the nuclear-armed American ally, but she contended they don’t pose a risk to the country’s atomic arsenal. AP

China says time to act on NKorea disarmament talks North Korea appears keen to improve ties with the U.S. and its neighbors in Asia and perhaps rejoin nuclear disarmament talks, China’s premier said Saturday, urging fellow leaders not to let the opportunity slip away. AP

Restart of Canada isotope reactor delayed to 2010 Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd has hit more problems with an aging nuclear reactor that produces a third of the world’s medical isotope supply and now says it will not be working again until early 2010, months later than initially estimated. Reuters

Merkel wants to delay nuclear extension-sources Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to postpone any decision on extending the lifespans of Germany’s 17 nuclear energy reactors until after a key state election in May 2010, government and industry sources said on Friday. Reuters

France arrests engineer at nuclear lab over Al-Qaeda links French agents have arrested an engineer working at the CERN nuclear research lab on suspicion of being in contact with the Al-Qaeda militant network and planning attacks, officials said Friday. AFP

Opinion and Analysis

Iran talks show early promise Boston Globe

The Nuclear Riddle World View

Just Say No NYT

ElBaradei: Obama has rekindled hope for word peace International Atomic Energy Egency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Friday that US President Barack Obama deserved to win the Nobel Prize for Peace because he had rekindled hope for world peace and had taken the lead on nuclear non-proliferation. ElBaradei won the prize himself in 2005 jointly with the Vienna-based IAEA. EarthTimes / Reuters

Geneva talks, one step forward for Iran: Mottaki Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says “Iran’s logic and resistance” defeated the country’s enemies in the nuclear talks. Press TV

Other Nuclear News

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize U.S. President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for giving the world “hope for a better future” and striving for nuclear disarmament. Reuters / AP / Novelprize.org

Iran looms over Clinton trip to Europe, Russia Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is planning to press for a strong commitment from Russia for the possible use of tough new sanctions on Iran when she visits Moscow next week at the end of a European tour. AP

U.S., Allies Confer on New Iran Sanctions The Obama administration quietly convened its first meeting with 10 key allies this week to try to build consensus on new economic sanctions aimed at punishing Iran for its nuclear program. Wall Street Journal

Iran to “blow up heart” of Israel if attacked: official Iran would “blow up the heart” of Israel if it was attacked by the Jewish state or the United States, a Revolutionary Guards official was quoted Friday as saying. Reuters

Japan and S. Korea Agree to Joint Stance on North South Korea and Japan closed ranks on North Korea on Friday, vowing that they would not provide economic aid and would continue to enforce sanctions until they were convinced that the North would abandon its nuclear weapons program. NY Times

North Korea to Send Nuclear Envoy to U.S. – Report A senior North Korean nuclear envoy plans to visit the United States later this month for a trip that could pave the way for restarting dialogue between the two countries, a South Korean broadcaster said on Friday. Reuters

Minor radioactive leak at Japanese nuclear plant A small amount of radioactive water leaked at a nuclear plant being decommissioned in Japan but there was no risk to people’s health or the environment, officials said Friday. AFP

Opinion and Analysis

Struggle looms to build on Iranian nuclear deals Reuters

Measuring progress The Economist

Chávez to Iran: How About Some Uranium? TIME

How to Manage a Nuclear Iran Foreign Policy

CIA Knew About Iran’s Secret Nuclear Plant Long Before Disclosure This summer, as the Obama Administration prepared to confront Iran with proof of its undisclosed uranium-enrichment plant in Qum, CIA Director Leon Panetta ordered his staff to work with European intelligence agencies to compile a comprehensive presentation about the facility. TIME

Iran says some countries offer it nuclear fuel President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that some countries had offered to provide Iran with uranium enriched to 20 percent for use as nuclear reactor fuel, the official IRNA news agency reported. Reuters/ Tehran Times

Iran’s Ahmadinejad calls Geneva talks a “step forward” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in his first comment on last week’s talks in Geneva between Iran and six major powers, said on Wednesday that they were a “step forward”. AFP

Senators Push for More “Benchmarks” on Iranian Nuclear Cooperation Democrats on a key Senate oversight committee yesterday pushed Obama administration leaders to establish carefully timed “benchmarks” for gauging Iran’s cooperation in resolving international concerns about its nuclear program GSN

Other Nuclear News

Iran Blames U.S. in Disappearance of Scientist Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday accused the United States of being involved in the disappearance of an Iranian scientist with alleged links to Iran’s nuclear program. WP

North Korea Not Near Restoring Nuclear Plant: South South Korea’s foreign minister said on Thursday there were no signs that the North was in the final stages of restoring an aging nuclear plant, knocking down a report that operations could soon resume at the facility. Reuters/ AP

Russia may revise use of nuclear weapons in new military doctrine Russia’s new military doctrine will contain some changes to the situations that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons or preventive strikes against potential foes, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council said on Thursday. Ria Novosti

India ready for nuclear energy tie-ups with UAE Buoyed by the surge in its trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has touched an astounding $ 44.5 billion, New Delhi is looking at substantiating its ties with Abu Dhabi to cover areas such as defence and nuclear energy. The Hindu

Opinion and Analysis

Iran’s New Flexibility: Can the U.S. Take Yes for an Answer? TIME

Intelligence Fiasco Footnote WSJ

The reality is that India will remain outside the NPT The Hindu

IAEA in the News

Iran plans to use new centrifuge at nuclear plant Iran plans to use a new generation of faster centrifuges to enrich uranium at a newly-revealed nuclear site, its atomic energy chief said in remarks published Tuesday. Reuters

IAEA undertakes to supply nuclear fuel for Tehran reactor: MP The International Atomic Energy Agency has undertaken to supply nuclear fuel to Iran for its Tehran nuclear reactor that produces isotopes for medical use, MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Tuesday. Tehran Times

Russia denies claim about Iran’s nuclear program A Russian security official has denied a report that Israel has presented evidence to Moscow that shows Russian experts are helping Iran develop a “nuclear weapon”. Press TV

Egypt opposition wants to make ElBaradei president Whether President Hosni Mubarak runs for re-election in 2011 or gives way to his son Gamal, an opposition party sees UN nuclear watchdog head Mohamed ElBaradei as a strong contender for Egypt’s top job. AFP

Other Nuclear News

U.S. warns Iran may face more sanctions The United States and its allies may impose sweeping sanctions on Iran if Tehran fails to allay fears it is building nuclear weapons, a U.S. official said on Tuesday. Reuters

Majority in U.S. Would Back Attack to Prevent Iran Nuclear Bomb A majority of Americans are skeptical that diplomacy with Iran will succeed and say the U.S. should use military action if necessary to prevent the Iranian government from developing a nuclear weapon. Bloomberg

French envoy calls for substantial nuclear talks France’s recently appointed special envoy on North Korea said Wednesday there should be “real and concrete discussions” if international talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear programs resume. AP

Chavez jokes about atomic bomb Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is poking fun at Washington’s misgivings over a possible transfer of nuclear materials between Venezuela and Iran. AP

Plane breaches Dimona reactor’s airspace An ultra-light plane breached the Dimona nuclear facility airspace Tuesday. Israel Air Force jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft, forcing it to land in an airfield near the southern city of Arad. The pilot was detained for questioning, then released. YnetNews

Nuclear Poker Heats Up in Berlin It seems a foregone conclusion that Berlin will back away from the nuclear energy phase-out legislated in 2002. But with power companies set to profit handsomely, the bluffing has begun. Der Spiegel

Opinion and Analysis

Israel will wait Foreign Policy

Is the U.S. Preparing to Bomb Iran? ABC News

Analysis: US leery of direct talks with NKorea AP

China Aims to Steady North Korea NYT

Nuclear Power: An Inconvenient Solution? GreenBiz

‘Language of force is not helpful on Iran issue’ The Hindu

IAEA in the News

Russian FM: Iran Enrichment Deal Needs Finalizing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that an agreement reached between Tehran and six world powers last week for Russia to help enrich uranium for an Iranian reactor has yet to be finalized. AP

Clinton calls Iran nuclear talks a ‘positive’ step US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates described last week’s nuclear talks with Iran as a positive step but said it was too early to predict the outcome of the negotiations. AFP

Anger as Iran holds up IAEA inspectors’ visit Britain on Monday expressed irritation that the International Atomic Energy Agency was being forced to wait three weeks before being given access to Iran’s hitherto secret enrichment plant, amid fears that the delay could allow Tehran to cover up possible evidence of military links to its nuclear programme. FT

Former IAEA Chief: Iran Inspections Step in Right Direction The former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says it is a step in the right direction for Iran to let agency inspectors visit its uranium-enrichment site. But he says questions about Iran’s nuclear program will not be easily answered. VOA

India-US to hold second round of nuke fuel talks in Vienna The US and India will hold the second round of talks on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in Vienna this week, with officials hoping to complete the negotiations much before the one year time limit under the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. The Hindu

Welcome to the nuclear club According to estimates from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), global reliance on nuclear energy will double by 2030, with the number of nuclear power plants (NPP) rising by 60pc. As President Dmitry Medvedev put it recently, Russia could claim a quarter of the world’s “nuclear pie”. Russia Now

Bahrain to get nuclear lifesaving technology A multi-million-dollar, lifesaving technology using nuclear energy will be set up soon in Bahrain, it has been revealed. The positron emission tomography (PET) scanning facility produces a three-dimensional image of functional processes in the body. Trade Arabia

Other Nuclear News

North Korea considers return to nuclear talks North Korea — North Korea’s leader is offering to return to multinational disarmament talks in a renewed effort to draw Washington into one-on-one talks that the United States has yet to fully embrace. AP

U.N. chief, Gorbachev call for end to nuclear arms United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Monday for world leaders to display political will to work towards genuine reductions and an eventual ban of nuclear weapons. Reuters

Adding Up The Radiation From Scans Since August, patients who undergo CT scans at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center have gotten a little something extra: a record of the amount of radiation they were exposed to during the test. WP

Opinion and Analysis

Why We Know So Little About Iran’s Nuclear Program TIME

Iran Assumptions NYT

Memories of Iraq return in Iran nuclear row FT

Iran’s Big Victory In Geneva WSJ

ANALYSIS – UAE could spur regional nuclear power rush Reuters

IAEA to inspect Iran’s Qom site Oct. 25 U.N. experts will inspect Iran’s newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant on Oct. 25, the IAEA nuclear agency chief said on Sunday, praising a shift “from conspiracy to cooperation” between Tehran and the West. Reuters/ AP/ Fars News

Iran says IAEA chief full of praise for cooperation Iran said on Monday that the chief of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei was full of praise for Tehran’s “cooperation” over its nuclear programme during his weekend visit to the Islamic republic. AFP

ElBaradei: We made little progress on denuclearization The UN nuclear watchdog Chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, says regional and global stability can only be achieved through total nuclear disarmament. Press TV

Report Says Iran Has Data to Make Bomb Senior staff members of the United Nations nuclear agency have concluded in a confidential analysis that Iran has acquired “sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable” atom bomb. NYT

U.S. sees advance in Iran nuclear cooperation President Barack Obama’s top security adviser on Sunday dismissed a report that Iran was closer to making an atomic bomb and said Iranian cooperation in the last few weeks was good for nuclear non-proliferation. Reuters

Iran says no change in nuclear stance after Geneva talks There has been no change in the Iranian nuclear stance and the issue was not raised in the Geneva talks with the world powers, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday. “We have not raised anything about our right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology in the Geneva talks,” the spokesman said. DPA

Israel names Russians helping Iran build nuclear bomb Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has handed the Kremlin a list of Russian scientists believed by the Israelis to be helping Iran to develop a nuclear warhead. He is said to have delivered the list during a mysterious visit to Moscow. The Times

UAE aims for first Gulf nuclear reactor in 2017 The United Arab Emirates aims to have a nuclear reactor — the first in the Gulf Arab states — in commercial operation in 2017 as part of a $40 billion atomic energy program, a top official said on Sunday. Reuters

Other Nuclear News

France Plays Unaccustomed Role: Diplomatic Hawk Once the world’s self-proclaimed international mediator, France is now trying its hand at pit-bull diplomacy with Iran. WSJ

Black Market Shows Iran Can Adapt to Sanctions President Obama has vowed to keep the pressure on Iran over its nuclear program after last week’s meeting in Geneva, and his advisers said the United States was intensively recruiting other nations to join in a harsher economic embargo against Tehran should diplomacy fail. NYT

N.Korea says it is open to nuclear talks, according to Chinese media North Korea told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday that it was open to bilateral and multilateral talks on its nuclear programmes, China’s state television reported. AFP

Key Indian Figures Call for New Nuclear Tests Despite Deal With U.S. A little more than a year after India and the United States signed a historic civilian agreement lifting a 30-year ban on nuclear trade, some former top nuclear scientists here are arguing that India needs to conduct another weapons test. WP

Myanmar says nuclear ambitions are peaceful – Japan Japan said on Saturday it had been assured by military-ruled Myanmar that it was not developing nuclear weapons even though it was working with Russia on a nuclear energy programme. Reuters

Merkel’s return to power boosts nuclear industry Angela Merkel’s new government may claw back billions of euros of windfall profits from German utilities in exchange for a stay of execution for the country’s nuclear power plants. FT

Lithuania to build new nuclear power plant, seeks European investors Lithuania is seeking European investors to underwrite construction of a new nuclear power plant. UPI

Opinion and Analysis

Containing a Nuclear Iran Newsweek

U.S. Wonders if Iran Is Playing for Time NYT

Analysis: Iran is winner in nuclear talks, at least for now CNN

Iran’s nukes in exchange for peace Haaretz

Negotiating With Tehran NYT

The Coming Failure On Iran WP

Nuclear Cheating The Times

Iran Agrees to Send Enriched Uranium to Russia Iran agreed on Thursday in talks with the United States and other major powers to open its newly revealed uranium enrichment plant near Qum to international inspection in the next two weeks and to send most of its openly declared enriched uranium outside Iran to be turned into fuel for a small reactor that produces medical isotopes, senior American and other Western officials said. NYT/ WSJ/ Reuters/ AP/ Press TV/ The Guardian

IAEA says chief ElBaradei to visit Iran soon The International Atomic Energy Agency says its director will visit Iran to discuss issues related to the country’s nuclear program. AP/ Reuters/ WSJ

Iran to cooperate with nuclear watchdog, says Solana Speaking after high-level talks in Geneva, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Iran would cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency on inspections of a new facility ahead of a second round of talks in October. France 24

Obama: Iran Must Follow Through on Nuke Promises President Barack Obama on Thursday called landmark nuclear talks with Iran a constructive beginning, then challenged Tehran to match words with deeds by giving international inspectors ”unfettered access” to a previously secret uranium enrichment plant within two weeks. AP

Iran has disclosed all nuclear sites – minister Iran has declared all its atomic sites to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday, countering suspicions that it may have undeclared facilities. Reuters/ NPR

Don’t threaten Iran, Carter says The United States and other nations should take a diplomatic approach toward Iran in negotiations over that nation’s nuclear program, President Carter said Thursday. CNN

The Canadian connection: Iran acquiring nuclear materials in Canada Iran has been running a sophisticated procurement operation in Canada to acquire materials for its nuclear and weapons programs, according to a senior Canadian official. Tha National Post

Other Nuclear News

Israel’s Doubts On Talks Allayed When President Obama announced efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program through diplomatic engagement, the concern in Israel was that open-ended talks would allow the Islamic republic time to continue toward its suspected goal of developing a nuclear weapon. WP

Obama keeps Israel’s nuke secret President Obama has reaffirmed a 4-decade-old secret understanding that has allowed Israel to keep a nuclear arsenal without opening it to international inspections, three officials familiar with the understanding said. The Washington Times

Radioactive Waste Becomes Growing Problem Nuclear power accounts for a significant part of South Korea’s green energy mix, but experts warn that the growing amount of spent nuclear fuel could provide a massive headache in the future. The Korea Times

Belgium may extend lifetimes of nuke plants -paper Belgium may extend the lifetimes of its three oldest nuclear power stations by ten years to 2025 to guard against energy shortages, newspaper De Standaard reported on Friday. Reuters

All must profit from German nuclear deal – lobby The head of Germany’s utility industry group BDEW said on Friday that profits from a deal on longer life cycles for nuclear plants must be shared across the energy companies so as to avoid one-sided advantages. Reuters

Opinion and Analysis

Iran Nuke Talks: Succeeding Beyond (Low) Expectations TIME

Analysis: Limited Geneva deal wins Iran sanctions respite Reuters

Iran Again: Is Everyone Bluffing? NYT

Opportunity for Iran and West The Khaleej Times

Anything more to declare? The Economist

Iran: Talking is the only option The Guardian

At the tipping-point The Economist

Leaving Israel With No Choice? WP

Part of a larger game plan? The Hindu

Iran broke law by not declaring atom site – ElBaradei Iran broke a transparency law of the U.N. nuclear watchdog by failing to disclose much earlier a nuclear plant being built for uranium enrichment, agency director Mohamed ElBaradei said in a televised interview. Reuters / The Guardian / AP / Press TV

Iran to propose third-party uranium enrichment: Ahmadinejad Iran will propose that it is prepared to buy from a third party uranium enriched to the grade it requires for its Tehran reactor rather than carry out the enrichment itself, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday. AFP / ISNA

U.S. Opens Door To Bilateral Talks With Iranians The United States hopes to launch a process here Thursday that could rein in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and possibly reorient Iran’s role in the world, though U.S. officials are skeptical that Tehran will act decisively when its diplomats sit down for long-awaited discussions with world powers. WP / AP / Press TV / Haaretz

U.N. Awaits Iran’s Word on Nuclear Inspections The United Nations nuclear watchdog could dispatch inspectors to Iran’s recently revealed nuclear facility within days if Tehran bows to demands from the U.S. and its allies to give investigators unfettered access to the site. WSJ / Press TV

As U.S. Plots Iran Strategy, Envoy’s Visit Hints at a Thaw As the United States and Iran prepared for critical talks over Tehran’s nuclear program, the Iranian foreign minister arrived quietly in Washington on Wednesday to visit the unofficial embassy here, the first visit to the capital by an Iranian of that rank in a decade. NYT

India can’t be expected to sign NPT in present form: IAEA chief In a clear authentication of India’s stand, IAEA chief Mohamed El-Baradei on Wednesday said that India cannot be expected to sign NPT in its present form and that CTBT instead could be more acceptable to New Delhi. The Times of India / The Hindu

How safe are interventional cardiac procedures? Recently, radiation protection measures in interventional radiology especially in cardiology have been receiving special attention. The Hindu

Other Nuclear News

France Toughens Stance on Iran Under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France has adopted an increasingly hard-edged approach to Iran, often out ahead of the Obama administration with uncompromising language criticizing Iranian leaders and warning that their nuclear program threatens world peace. WP

Possibility of a Nuclear-Armed Iran Alarms Arabs As the West raises the pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, Arab governments, especially the small, oil-rich nations in the Persian Gulf, are growing increasingly anxious. NYT

Iranian Opposition Warns Against Stricter Sanctions As the United States and its allies consider further sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fear that such punishment could have unintended consequences, strengthening the government’s hand against domestic dissent and triggering an even harsher crackdown on political foes. WP

Door open to dialogue with N. Korea Washington’s number two diplomat said the United States is open to dialogue with North Korea if it helps get international nuclear disarmament talks started again, and urged the regime yesterday to take advantage of the opportunity. AP

Opinion and Analysis

Iranian Statement May Offer Window Into Nuclear Efforts NYT

Time for diplomacy to end the stand-off with Iran FT

Talking With Iran: Chances for a Breakthrough Are Low TIME

The power, and threat, of Iran LATimes

Ahmadinejad: Iran’s Man of Mystery TIME

Analysis: Israel rethinks anti-Iran warnings Reuters

Interview with the Director General Mohamed ElBaradei

Iran on the wrong side of nuclear law: IAEA chief International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei is concerned over Iran’s nuclear plans and blames Tehran for not informing them of their new nuclear plants. CNN-IBN

IAEA: Iran broke law by not revealing nuclear facility The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency said Iran broke the law by not disclosing sooner its recently revealed uranium enrichment site. CNN

IAEA in the News

Iran May Leave Nuclear Treaty If Talks With UN Powers Fail Iran may end its participation in the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if talks this week fail to resolve the international dispute over the country’s atomic development, a member of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said. Bloomberg

Iran built nuclear site shielded from air attack In an unusually frank disclosure, Iran’s nuclear chief said Tuesday the country’s new uranium enrichment site was built for maximum protection from aerial attack: carved into a mountain and near a military compound of the powerful Revolutionary Guard. AP

Iran says will not discuss second nuclear plant Iran said on Tuesday it would not discuss a previously secret nuclear plant at international talks this week but Washington vowed to bring it up and demanded Tehran prove it is not developing an atomic weapon.Reuters

Iran’s chief negotiator “positive” ahead of nuclear talks Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said on Wednesday he was heading for potentially make-or-break talks with world powers on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme with a “positive approach.” AFP

Solana’s presumptions before nuclear talks with Iran Two days before the high-level talks begin in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana asserts that Iran should provide “guarantees” on its enrichment program. Press TV

U.N. Chief Says Iran Must Prove Its Sincerity on Nuclear Issue U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that Iran’s construction of the Qom uranium-enrichment facility violates U.N. resolutions requiring it to halt all nuclear enrichment activities, adding that Tehran must prove to the world that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. WP

President honours ElBaradei with Indira Gandhi Peace Prize Mohammad ElBaradei, Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was on Wednesday honoured with the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for his “impassioned opposition to use of nuclear energy for military purposes”. The Times of India

ElBaradei: listen to India’s voice for total disarmament International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei on Tuesday acknowledged India as a “leading advocate” for nuclear disarmament and felt the world must listen to its “voice” for the elimination of nuclear weapons. The Hindu

PM: First N-disarmament, then NPT In a clear manifestation of India’s frustration, as also its unwavering stand, in the face of renewed attempts by the Obama administration to prop up Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which New Delhi considers discriminatory, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stated that for any non-proliferation attempt to be successful it was important to link it with complete nuclear disarmament.
The Times of India

India promises 12,000% boost in nuclear capacity by 2050 India announced the world’s boldest nuclear power development plan yesterday, saying that it could boost its atomic capacity by 12,000 per cent by 2050 to end crippling power shortages while limiting carbon emissions. The Times

Other Nuclear News

Iran ‘has secret nuclear arms plan’ Britain’s intelligence services say that Iran has been secretly designing a nuclear warhead “since late 2004 or early 2005”, an assessment that suggests Tehran has embarked on the final steps towards acquiring nuclear weapons capability. FT

US: No ’snap judgment’ this week on Iran nukes The Obama administration, while skeptical of an early breakthrough in nuclear talks with Iran, indicated Tuesday it does not intend to swiftly press for stiffer economic sanctions.AP

China’s Ties With Iran Complicate Diplomacy Leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee swept into Beijing last month to meet with Chinese officials, carrying a plea from Washington: if Iran were to be kept from developing nuclear weapons, China would have to throw more diplomatic weight behind the cause. NYT

South Korea Nuclear Proposal “Ridiculous”: North Media North Korea’s state media rejected a proposal by South Korean president Lee Myung-bak for a fresh deal to end its nuclear arms programme in return for massive aid, which he called possibly Pyongyang’s last chance at survival.Reuters

More than half of body radiation scanners defective: survey More than half of the body radiation detectors installed in the wake of the Tokaimura nuclear accident in 1999 are now out of operation, a government survey has found. The Mainichi Daily News

Opinion and Analysis

An Interview With Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr MottakiNYT

Analysis: Iran plant could defer Israel strikeAP

Is there ’smoking gun’ proof of Iran bid for nukes? Haaretz

Forget the NukesWP

Lifting Iran’s Nuclear Veil NYT

How Badly Would Sanctions on Gas Imports Hurt Iran?TIME

Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue BBC